Columbia Southern's tuition & fees has increased from $5,175 (2015) to $6,224 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 20.27% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $5,085 (year 2015) to $3,936 (year 2025).
The 2025 tuition & fees have risen more than 5% this year (2025) at Columbia Southern University.
Columbia Southern's tuition increase rate is lower than the Alabama's average increase rate of 21.50%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 41.86% from 2015 ($15,483).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, Columbia Southern's COA is $21,964, which is increased by 5.58% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to Columbia Southern's COA over the past 10 years.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | - | $15,483 | - |
| 2016-17 | - | $15,530 | 0.30% |
| 2017-18 | - | $15,935 | 2.61% |
| 2018-19 | - | $16,503 | 3.56% |
| 2019-20 | - | $17,283 | 4.73% |
| 2020-21 | - | $17,809 | 3.04% |
| 2021-22 | - | $19,177 | 7.68% |
| 2022-23 | - | $19,679 | 2.62% |
| 2023-24 | - | $20,804 | 5.72% |
| 2024-25 | - | $21,964 | 5.58% |
The tuition & fees have increased 20.27% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $5,944. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Columbia Southern University over last the 10 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | Change By Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $5,175 | $5,085 | - |
| 2016-17 | $5,175 | $5,085 | |
| 2017-18 | $5,415 | $3,615 | 4.64% |
| 2018-19 | $5,535 | $3,735 | 2.22% |
| 2019-20 | $5,655 | $3,915 | 2.17% |
| 2020-21 | $5,775 | $4,035 | 2.12% |
| 2021-22 | $5,775 | $4,035 | |
| 2022-23 | $6,015 | $4,155 | 4.16% |
| 2023-24 | $5,808 | $3,820 | -3.44% |
| 2024-25 | $6,224 | $3,936 | 7.16% |
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 26.00% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Columbia Southern University.
| Year | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $9,684 | - |
| 2016-17 | $9,675 | -0.09% |
| 2017-18 | $9,792 | 1.21% |
| 2018-19 | $10,280 | 4.98% |
| 2019-20 | $10,924 | 6.26% |
| 2020-21 | $11,342 | 3.83% |
| 2021-22 | $12,786 | 12.73% |
| 2022-23 | $13,664 | 6.87% |
| 2023-24 | $14,996 | 9.75% |
| 2024-25 | $15,740 | 4.96% |
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Columbia Southern University and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Southern University | $6,224 | $5,808 | 7.16% |
| Strayer University-Alabama | $13,920 | $13,920 | - |
| South University-Montgomery | $17,895 | $16,452 | 8.77% |
| Brown Mackie College-Birmingham | $12,492 | $12,492 | - |
| University of Phoenix-Alabama | $10,905 | $10,905 | - |
| ITT Technical Institute-Bessemer | - | - | - |
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